Machine for sealing



R. M. ZIMBER ET AL 1,924,532

MACHINE FOR SEALING FiledSept. 12, 1929 3 Sheets-Shgec l INVENTORS M ATTORNEYS Ailg. 29, 1933.

R. M. ZIMBER ET AL MACHINE FOR SEALING Filed Sept. 12, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN L ATT NEYS s- 1933- R. M. Z|MBER4 ET AL MACHINE FOR SEALING Filed $9131. 12, 1929 3 heets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS film, ATTORNEYS to be sealed into proper relation to each other for b tween the m i li m ch i m a the Patented Aug. 29, 1 933 n i 1 r f 74 z j E TE'D S A E {PA 5 i? O F- E v twa v MACHINE Foa SEALING h h Raymond M. z imber, Bloomfield, enemas A.f Hawthorne, 'Newark, N; J., assignors to De forest Radio Companyd JerseyCity, N.J., a? corporation of Delaware a Application September 12, 1929 Serial No.3il2,136 1 Claims. (01. 49 -2)- This invention relates to sealing machinery and enumerated w b app af a'c a with particularity to methodsand means for sealof t ow d l d d o s nd he ing containers suchaslamps, audions and similar appended Claims e I I .7 devices. i i i a While the invention will bendisclosed herein- 5 An object of the invention is to provide a ma after as pp d t0 aemachinie f aling t .65

chine for uniting and sealing the ste m portion of a s m or o ntp t on i a audion to e alarm) to the main or envelope portion thereof. main envelope portion thereof, it will be under; A feature of the inventionrelates to a sealing stood that r b s features of t e i v nt on machine having means for automatically and uniare equally app a to e Sealing u i 10 formly heating the parts to be sealed" e r of any other portions of devicessuch as lamps, Another-feature of the invention relates to a audions, e111 e I machine for sealing the stem and envelope por- Referring to th drawlngsf tions of e' lamp and similar 'devices,together with Figure 11S a v in elevation ofgth a novel means forautomatically bringingthe parts according the t o S W g the r n the sealing operation. ,v rotary head of the machine; i

Another feature has reference to a lamp sealing i J @t P an View qii em in g? machine ofthe rotary, head type, having means 1 i the rotary e e v d 9 h w q b for accurately indexing the head to each of a ,pluinternal Structure, and Qp fl Q 20 rality of successive posit-ions for different working therefor; v r Y ,1 v h operations. Y i V Fig. 3 is a vertical view in elevation'and parr A iurtherfeature relates to ,a sealing machine tiail Section Showing 19 interior 1 arrangemel l for lamps or similar articles, employing a rotary ofnthe riving mechanisms and themeanralior head and a plurality of lamp holders which are raising W I er u t G fi QO E rotated to present uniformly, to the sealing fires t he invention; g g q the portionsiof thelamps to be. sealed, and means Fig. 4- s a detail v w Of he adjustable, gear for insuring that said lamp holders are in oonbracket for taking .up slack in the driving chains; venient position to permit the machine to be r F g. 5 S-a de ilwiew; 0f neofa k i loaded and unloaded. V v 3 preventing the mount 3 holders rotating during Another feature relatesto a plurality oflamp one part of the rotary movement oilthef main holders adapted to be revolved as a unit about a head; i v I v l vertical axis and to be individually rotated about t Fig. fi isa detail view showing howithemount e their respective axes by a continuous chain, belt rod assemblies are brought into proper position h or other similar transmission. for loading;

a Another feature relates to a sealing-,machine Fig. 7 me detailviewoi the colletseparating"2 f oriamps or similar articles havinga reciprocable means. i 1 v r A stem or mount holder, together with means for Referring more particularly to-Figur the accurately raising and lowering said holder at numeral 1 represents a base which isoflsuitable [a predetermined points? in the operation of the material for supporting the lweiightof the machine; g chine and which is adapted tobesecured to the further feature relates to a sealing machine floor in any convenient" manner, as by bolts, the rotaryhead type which israpid and eflicientpassing through the holes 2. Mountedon the in operationand wherein the rotary head encloses base 1 is a driving motor 3, which may beof any i the main operating mechanism and the attendsuitable deSignQpreIerably one for, maintaining] ant is thusprotected from injury due to contact a uniform speed." Motor 3, instead of being I with moving parts, etc. 7 e mounted directly onthe'j'basel, is preferably A stillfurther feature relates to the novel transbolted to a frame which may be adjust ably mission'ineohanism for rotating the movable head pivoted to base 1, in order toadju'st the tension. of alamp sealing machine. v x i of themain driving belt 19. '1 t W invention also relates to theorganization; "The" shaft of motor 3'is coupled to a pulleyfl5 einent'andrelative locations of the various through a suitable speed reduction gearing (not a h s h go to upan eiilcient, accurate shown) within the gear boxhfi, which is also and easily operated machine for sealing lamps, mounted on frame ,,4'., 7 f U l 1 audions and similar articles.-

l 9 Likewise, fastened to base 1', by boltsor other' a i a res n v ta e i t n t fica bl means, is a hollow'castingi 8,. servi g as is a casing comprising a cylindrical portion 14 for enclosing the'worm gear 21 and cam 27. "The casing also includes another portion 15 in which are mounted the ball bearings 16 for the worm shaft 17.

Shaft 17 at its left hand end (Fig.3) is keyed to a pulley 18, which is driven from pulley 5 by means of a belt or chain 19. Shaft 17 also has affixed thereto a worm 20, which engages the teeth of the worm gear 21. 7 Gear 21 is mounted on 'a' shaft 22 which is providedwith. suitable bearings 23 in opposite ends of casing 14. Shaft '22 also has affixed thereto a shroudedcam 25 for oscillating the member 26, hereinafter described, for the purpose of raising and lowering the mount or stem supports. Another cam27 is carried on the shaft 22 for .the purpose'of controlling the indexing movement of the rotary head'28. A bevel gear 29'is also affixed to the end of shaft 22 for rotation-therewith, and is adapted to engage a corresponding bevel gear affixed to the vertical shaft 20, which carries at its upper end a cog wheel 31 (Fig. 2) for purposeshereinafter described;

The reduced upper end 32 of the casting 8 is adapted to support for rotation therearound, the

I hollow rotary head 28, and for this purpose'suitable ball bearing races 33, 34 are provided be tween the standard portion 32 and the head 28.

Ata plurality of spaced points throughout the circumference'of the head 28, there area number of hollow bosses 35, which extend on oppositesides of the head 28 to provide suitable bearings and supports-for the mount rod assemblies and lamp holders, designated generally bythe numeral 36. While'Fig. 2 of the drawings shows the head equipped for sixteen of these mount rod assemblies, it is to be understood that any desired number may be employed. Each mount assemblycomprises in general a vertically reciprocable rod 37A, 37B, 37C, 37D, -etc., provided ,with a set? of gripper fingers adapted to receive and grip the stems 38 of the lamp or audion .as described in application Serial No.

393,936. Each ofthe rods 37A, etc. is mounted for slidingmotion withinits associated hollow sleeve 39, but the rods 37 are keyed to the sleeves 39 ;to rotate therewith as a unit. Sleeve 39 is "provided with'a collar portion 40 which is adapt ed to be supported'on a cutout-depression in the end of the boss 35 as shown more clearlyv in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Each of the'sleeves 39 carriesnear its lower end a cog wheel 41, by

, means' of which the said's'l'eeve, together with the lamp holding bracket-rods 42, may be rotated as a unit around thejaxis of said sleeve, at the same time that the head 28 is being revolved.

As shown in Fig. 3, the members 42 carry a set of jaws'65 for receiving the main orenvelopeportion 66 0mm lamporaudion. As described in detail in copending application Serial No.393,936

filed September 20, 1929, each rod has its outer face provided with three longitudinal grooves through'which compressedair is forced to sepa-' iupper ends of standards 44 to 48*.

;more clearly in Fig. 4 the cog wheel 49 is mounted on a bracket member 50 which is pivotally.

Attached to the bracket'po'rtions13' the shrouded cam 25.

ratethe collet portion after the lamp has been sealed as described hereinafter.

For the purpose of effecting the rotary movement of the assemblies 36, there is mounted on the upper surface of :the table portion 9 a series of idler cog wheels 43, 44,49. The intermediate wheels 44to 48 are rotatably mounted on the As shown supported as at 51 on the table 9 and provided with a fastening nut 52 by means of which said bracket may be locked in adjusted position. Also sup- I ported within the bracket 50 and one the same spindle as cog wheel 49 is a cog wheel 53. "Both wheels 49 and 53 are adapted to be driven from the 'wheel 31 by means of a sprocket chain 53 which passes around wheels 31 and 53. Slack in chain 53 may. be adjusted by turning the frame .50 about pin 51 and locking inadjusted position. Passing around the end wheels 43 and 49 is acontinuous sprocket chain 54, the outer length of which engages the idler wheels 44, 45, 46, 47,48, while the inner length engages the cog wheels 41 attached to mount rod sleeves 39. For the purpose of adjusting the slack in chain 54, the bracket which supports cog wheel 43 may be adjustably fastened to table 9 as described in connection withbracket 50. As wheel 31 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the inner portion of chain 54 moves in the direction of the associated arrow,

and consequently, each of the mount rods 37A,

3713, etc. and its associated assembly 36 is rotated in aclockwisedirection (Fig. 2).

As the head 28 rotates in the direction of the arrow all the mountrods 37 between the points C and D are adapted to be held in their uppermost position, while the remaining mount rods are adapted to beheld in their lowermost position. For the purpose of lowering a mount rod when it reaches point D, and for raising the same mount rod when it reaches point C, said rods carry at their lower ends groove members 55. Adapted to engage the grooves in members 55 are two. pins 56 and 56*, mounted respectively on opposite ends'of the oscillating arm 26. Arm 26 is fastened to a short shaft 5'7 which oscillates in suitable bearing brackets 58, fastened to table 9.

Shaft 57 carries atits left hand end (Fig. 2) an upright arm 59which caries a pivoted link 60. Link 60 is similarly connected toan upright arm 61 on the shaft 62. Shaft 62 at its left hand end (Fig; 3) carries a crank arm 63, which is provided at its lower end'with a roller 64, engaging As said cam rotates inthe direction of the arrow, the shafts 62 and 57 are correspondingly rocked, as is the arm 26. The

pin 56 on the arm 26 is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 inits raised position, having moved the mount rod 37D, which happensto be associated there with,to its uppermost position. At the same time the pin 56 has moved the associated mount rod 37A to its down position. With the head 28 of the machine in the position shown'in'the drawings, the mount rod 378 and its associated assembly 36 are in the loading position. That is to say, there is placed upon the upper end of said roda' stem as described in copending application Serial No. 393,936 filed September 20,1929. On the other hand the position of rod 37C representsthat position inwhich there is placed the main or envelope portion 66 within the locating and supportingjaws 65. v I

For the purpose of producing the-step-by-step or indexing motionof the head 28, the said head the angular distance between two mount rod as As a result of this arrangement, the,

semblies. head may .be indexed in a highly accurate man ner from position to position, and the cam 27'at the same time acts as a centering device for maintaining the head in its indexed position.

As the 'head 28 rotates in the direction of the associated arrow (Fig. 2)" all of the mount rods, withthe exception'of 37A, 37B, 370' are in; their uppermost position, and when in this position the grooves 55 are in registry with a track 'll attached to standards 44A, 45A, etc., and extending only partially around the table 9 as shown in Fig. 2 Consequently, during the rotation of the head. thirteen of the mount rods are maintained in their uppermost position, wherein the stem poi.-

" tion 38 ofithetube or lamp is held in engagement withthe envelope portion 66 thereof, and,

the sealing fire '72 in front of each mount 'rod assembly 36 is effective in heating up the union between the said stem and said envelope.

' As shown in Fig. 3 the sealing fires '72, (oneor more for each position of head28) are attached to supports '73 which in turnare fastened to the table 9. A gas manifold 74 extends around and'beneath table9 substantially from the points Uto D, and each of the supports 73 is connected to said manifold at the respective indexing positionof head 28. Suitable air and gas, regulating valves 75, 76 are provided for eachifire 38 to regulate the temperature thereof, as is well known in the glassblowing artlf. V Just before a mount rod assembly reaches the unloading position (represented by the position in whichrod 37Ais'sh0wn in Fig.2), it isdesirable that the assembly 36 be maintainedin the proper position forenabling it to be later unloaded. .'Ihis is to say, jaws '65 should be maintained in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, while the head 'is traveling between points D and C. In order'tomaintainthis posi tion of the assembly. 36, the grooved. portion of each rod 3'7 is provided with a"flat 77 (Fig. 6)

. and pivotally attached to the end of the track 71 is an extension thereof 78', which is resiliently held in the position shown in the drawings by 6 means of an associated spring 79. Consequently, as a mount rod rides off the end of track 71, the

extension 78 engages theflat: portion 77 ofgth'e mount rod to insure that said mount rod is in the proper position prior to its reaching the loading position. i It will be noted that between the points E and C the mount rod assemblies 36 are not individually rotated about their respective axes, consequently the said rcdsremain in the position determined by extension 78 andthefiflats '77. After having thus been positioned, the mount proper angular position, andthe flat portion '77 now fbeingin alignment with the groove 55,, the

air'under pressure is; led from a source ,(not shown) through pipes 94 and 95 andthence to open-grooved end of the'm'ount rod. The'com pressed air-then passesup through the mountrod spring maternal, so as to provide a" resilient Iengagement between the grooves 55 and trackf80. This is'necessary since, becauseof accidental displacements, a mount rod might be pulled out of might otherwise bind against the end of track With the foregoing description in mind it is thought the methodof opera-tionof the machine will now be understood. Considering the head 28 of the machine in the position shown in Fig. 2, thestem 38 is inserted in the mount rod 373, as described in the copendingfapplicationiserial No. 393,936 filed September 20, 1929. The-motor,

is'th'en started and .the head 28 is indexed. in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 2). to thenext 37B is now in the position represented by the numeral 37C. In this position is placed the en-I velope portion 66 of the lamp or audion between the jaws-65, and thereafter the head28 isindexed position. Thatis to say the mountrod assembly V to the next position. ,In thisposition (37D).the

cam 25. oscillates the arm ,26 as described herein-.5 above, and the pin 56 on the end of said arm arm 26 causes the rod 37D to be raised sufficiently. high to bring-said groove inregistrywith theupper track '71. 'During this upward movement of the mountrod thestem portion 38 of the lamp is accurately centered and firmly gripped as described in detail inapplication, Serial No. 393,936,

loo

raisedthe pin 56D on the opposite end of arm 26 engages the groove 55 of. the rod 37A and when said rod-has left the extension ;78,oft rack' 71,

red 37A is lowered and brought into registry with .115

lower track 80. The lamp or audion whichhas been raised into, track 'llras described is now caused to rotate about itsaxis at the same time that it is advancing from, one position to the next, and atthe same time that it is being heated-by the torches '(2. -Th e manner of rotating. the "lamp together with: the associated assembly 36 as itpasses from one position to another has been describedin detail hereinabove bymeans ofithe' inner length ofuchain B iengaging the sprocket wheel 41 on the sleeve of the lamp holder assemblies. The lamp continues totravel and at the sametim'e rotate"aboutits axis until'it reaches the position indicated. by the letter E, at which; time the stem 38 has been completely united with'the 'e'nVelope portion 66., At positionE compressedairis forced 'up. through the grooves in the'w'all'of the mount and impinges, against the inner fajce ofthe collet adjacent the" sealing point, thus separating the colle t' frorh the lamp proper. Fig. '7 shows the manner in which; the supply of air for removing the 'c'ollet is con: trolled; Camshaft" 22 (Figs.2 and-3). "has at tached thereto atjoneend a earn, 90 which makes one revolution forfeach'step, of the head 26 and when an asser'nbly reaches position E said cam means of "spring 93. With valve 92 thusopen,v

an oult'et pipe 96 which passes through base 9 at ornear position E, where it is in registry. with the operatesvalve stem 91 andraises the associated valve 92,- said valve being normally closed by and leaves at the upper end thereofwhere it is deflected against the inner wall of the, collet as described inapplication Serial No. 393,936, referred to hereinabove'; At this position, therefore, the flat: portion". 77' (Fig. 6); of the mount rod rides on thesextension' :78. until it reaches 7 the position D where it ;is lowered. The; collet' portion 84- which qhas been removed from the lamp proper after the sealing operation now rests on the surface a of the lamp 'holder assembly and by 'means of a suitable mechanism said collet may be ejected fromthe machine after the sealed envelope and stem'are removed at the position'D. The above cycle of operation is completed for each of the remaining lamps. While the operation in connection with .onelamp' has been described, it

will be understood that there is a'lamp positioned ineach of the lamp holder assemblies, and that as shown in the drawings, twelve lamps are undergoing the sealing operation simultaneously.

-While specific apparatus has been disclosed for the purpose of carrying out the several features of the invention, itwill be understood that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit'and scope of the'lnvention.- For example, while a rotary type of head is disclosed it will be understood that a longitudinal or belt-like type may be employed, and'similarly whilethe term lamp or audion has been employed throughout the specification, it

will be understood that the invention is capable similar class of object. I 7

What is claime'd is: n 1 l. Ina lamp sealing machine, a fixed platform,

of application to the uniting of the parts of any I a movable platform, a plurality of devices mounted for individual rotation in said movable platform, a reciprocable support rod in each of said devices, a'pivoted lever for raising and lowering each rod at predetermined points in" the movement of said movable platform, and a guide traclry for retaining said rods in raised position." 7

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which an additional guide track is provided for retaining said rodsin lowered position.

'3.A machine according to claim 1 in which the guide track is attached to the fixed platform.

'14. In a machine of the character described, a

' moving platform, a'pluralityfof lamp holdingdepositions, the last mentioned pivoted lever.

vices mounted for individual rotation on said platform and each including a'reciprocable rod, and a pivoted lever for simultaneouslyraising one rod and lowering another rod.

5. A machine according to claim 4 in which the means for raising and lowering the rods includes an oscillating arm adapted to engage each set of rods in succession.

6. In a machine of the character described a moving platform, a plurality of devices each mounted for individual rotation on said platform,

eachdeviceincluding a slidable: rod, an. endless flexible driving member, means forcouplingeach of said devices to said driving member, means for reciprocating said rod at predetermined points in the movement of said platform, and means for positively retaining said rodin its reciprocated means including a 7. In a machine of the character described a movable platform, a plurality of devices each mounted for individual rotation on said platform 7 and adapted to support part of an article to be sealed, a first guide, track, a secondlguidetrack,

and lever means' eifective at'predetermined point in the movement of said platform for moving each of said devices is succession from the firsttrack to the second track. I

8. A machine according to claim 7 in which the means for moving the, devices on toand off the tracks includes an oscillating arm.

9. Ina machine of the character described, a

moving platform, a plurality of devices each mounted for rotation on said platform, a first track, a second track, means for vmoving one'of saiddevicesfrom the first trackto the second track, and lever means for simultaneously moving another of-said devices froni'the second track to the first track. f

10. A machine according to claim 9' in which the means for rotating the devices about their own axes includes a continuously operating chain.

11. A machine according to claim 9 in which means are provided for preventing the rotation of a device about its axis when said device'is on the second track. V

l2. Ahmachine according to claim 9. in which each device is provided with a flat portion adapted to engage'said second tra'ckto prevent rotation of each device about its own axis.-

"13. A machine according to claim 9' in which i .plurality'of devices for holding articles to be sealed, a plurality of serially arranged sealing torches, means for moving said other platformto bring each article to be sealed successively into registry with said torches, an-upper guide track,

a lower guide track for said devices and lever means for moving. one of said devices from the upper track. to the lowertrack, and simultaneously moving another of said devices from' the lower track to the upper track.

' l6; In a machine of the character described a rotatable head, a plurality of article holding devices each mounted for individual rotation on said head, a wheel carried by each device a continu ously moving'chain, means for meshing each of said devices with said chain in succession, and means for taking up slack in said chain.

17. In a machine of the character described a rotating head, a plurality"of=article holding devices mounted in saidhead,-- a loading position forsaid head, meansfor rotating said head and for individually rotating. each of said devices about, its own axis except when said devices reach the loading position, thelast mentioned means includingan endless chain looped to a sub.

stantial Cshape, driver wheels carried by said holding device and adapted to mesh successively with said chain. 7

18. In a machine of the character described a rotatable head, a plurality .of article holding devices each mounted for' individual rotation in said head, a looped driving member, and means for causing said devices tobe brought into mesh Withthe periphery of said looped member.

19. In amachine of the. character described the combination of a plurality ofdevices each adapted to gripa lamp stem, means for mounting said devices for simultaneous rotation and revolution, a pair of tracks for guiding sa'id devices during vidual rotation and reciprocating movement said head, aguide track for said devices for positively maintaining the same in raised position,

another guide track for positively maintaining character described the the said devices, lowered position, an intermediate guide track for preventing rotation of RAYMOND M. ZIMBER. LOUIS A. HAWTHORNE.

said devices about their axis, and yieldable means carried by the first mentioned track for adjusting the angular position of each device as it leaves said first mentioned track prior to engaging said intermediate track. r 

